Free Unconditional Love by Kelly Elliott

dreamed.”
    She let out the silliest little yelp. “I knew Lark Williams had it in him. He just needed to find the right girl.”
    My stomach dipped a little and my smile faded a bit. “Well, I’m not sure if I’m the right girl or even the girl .”
    “Wait. Was this a one-time thing? Please tell me you didn’t agree to him taking your virginity and walking away!”
    “No. We both agreed that we would be exclusive, but I have a feeling this is the first time he has been exclusive since…well since…” Why couldn’t I say her name?
    “Nikki?” Jessie asked.
    “Yes. Jessie, why do I feel like I’m in competition with someone who passed away years ago? I can’t shake this feeling that he was comparing me to her.”
    She let out a breath and said, “Pesh. Nonsense, Azurdee. He would never do that. I’m sure it was probably just very powerful for him. I mean, by his own admission he has said he has no intentions of ever…”
    Her voice trailed off and I knew she was regretting what she had just said. “Jessie, I knew how Lark was and how he thought when I got into this. I know he could walk away at any given moment.”
    I silently prayed that would never happen, but deep down inside I knew it was a strong possibility.
    “He won’t walk away, sweetie. I see the way he looks at you. I think you are the game changer he’s been waiting for.”
    I bit down on my fingernail and began chewing it. “Maybe. I don’t want to get my hopes up, ya know?”
    “So tell me…are you sore?” she asked with a giggle.
    I felt like a teenager in high school. “Let’s just say he told me he was going to make it so I would think about him every time I moved…for a few days.”
    Jessie let out a gasp and began laughing. “Oh my.”
    I dropped my head back onto the sofa and said, “Jessie…he is amazing. I mean…the way he can be so sweet and then so dirty. Oh God . He had me going insane with lust for him.”
    “The sweet part surprises me, but not the dirty,” she said with a laugh.
    I laughed in return and said, “Four times.”
    “Four times! Look at the stamina Mr. Williams has!”
    We both lost it in a laughing fit. “Jesus, Azurdee. No wonder you’re sore.”
    “Bed twice, bathtub once, and then the shower,” I said in an almost whisper.
    “Well damn. I’m a bit jealous. I think I’m going to have to run a hot bath,” Jessie said with a giggle. “When will he be back?”
    The strangest feeling moved over me and I wasn’t really sure what to think of it. I almost felt scared. Like Lark might be in some kind of danger.
    “Azurdee?”
    Jessie’s voice pulled me out of my daydream. “He um…he said he’d be back in five days at the most.”
    “He mention where he was going?” Jessie asked. I could see her now all perked up. I let out a weak laugh and said, “Nope.”
    “Damn it. What does that boy do for a living? One of these days I’m gonna find out.”
    Right then my cell phone buzzed and I pulled it away. A text message from Lark scrolled across the top.
    “Oh my God!” I screamed.
    “What? Is everything okay? What’s wrong?” Jessie screamed back.
    “He just sent me a text. I gotta go!”
    “No! Wait. Don’t hang up you bitch—put me on speaker and read it,” Jessie said in a panicked voice.
    I hit speaker and opened up his text message.
    Lark: I can’t stop thinking about you. I hope your morning is going good.
    Even with Jessie on the phone, I had to reply right away.
    Me: I can’t stop thinking about you either. My morning has been…uneventful so far.
    He quickly replied back.
    Lark: Have to take off again but just wanted to say hey. See ya in a few.
    Me: Be careful and have a safe trip.
    Lark: Always.
    Jessie cleared her throat. “Hello! I’m still here, ya know. What did he say?”
    I sighed and said, “He said he was thinking about me and that he hoped I had a good morning. He said he had to take off again and would see me in a few days.”
    Jessie and I both let out